The Quality and Standards Committee is responsible for promoting quality hospice and community-based palliative care through NHPCO programmatic initiatives.

The Committee is also responsible for updating the NHPCO Standards of Practice for Hospice Programs, including systematic ongoing review and revision of the Standards document to ensure compliance with regulations and best practices.

In addition, the committee assists with development of NHPCO quality resources, including performance measures, performance improvement resources, and hospice quality reporting program support materials.

Expectations of Committee Service

Quality and Standards Committee Members should be prepared to spend 2-3 hours per month on committee work.

Committee members serve two-year terms.

Meetings and Conference Calls

Committee members are expected to participate actively in committee meetings and functions. Materials should be read prior to committee and work group meetings. Committee members are asked to notify the staff liaison if they will not be available for a conference call or meeting.

The full Quality and Standards Committee meets every month by conference call for 60 minutes. Work Groups meet by conference call on an ad hoc basis, depending on the particular needs of each project as it progresses. Committee members are expected to participate in at least one Work Group during the year.

The committee usually has one in-person meeting in January to plan activities for the coming year. Committee members, and especially new members, are strongly encouraged to attend these meetings.

NHPCO does not pay for travel-related expenses for committee members. It is the committee member’s responsibility to assume any related travel expenses.

General Committee Member Expectations

Meet deadlines agreed upon by the committee. Committee work often includes drafting materials for quality related support materials and resources that are made available to NHPCO members.

Present/participate in educational sessions and forums.

Work with the NHPCO staff and committee chair to complete the committee’s work plan. Each year the committee agrees to work on projects according to NHPCO strategic priorities.